Sunday evening is Visiting Night at Granny and Opa's house. Grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, treats, laughter and sometimes tears, swirl together. Yes, it can be messy with swirling treats :). The yard, remember is the same one we shared from January to June. Our 2 boy walked to each door on the back of the blue house, wiggled each knob, hoping to find one open. He finally gave up and climbed into the tree house to be eye level with the boys sitting on the monkeybars.
In the car on the way home T asked, "Where we going?"
Me: "Home. (Realizing that might be vague to him...) To G and T's house, where our beds are."
T: "GRRRR"
We all turned to look at him. T had never made this sound in the context of a conversation, unless we were talking about a ferocious animal. Poor guy was exasperated.
It really is interesting how perspective can change. 7 of us have been living in 2 rooms for quite a while now, with only minimal personal belongings and clothes and sharing one bathroom. (Yes, there are 8 of us! I am not counting Princess K. She has managed to have her own room in both houses we have shared. Lucky girl!) I have started to wonder if we really needed to sell, needed more space, or wanted. Somewhere in my mind, I guess I knew this would happen. On the morning we started packing up, I took a minute to record just how crammed into our space we were. For when I lost perspective. Yeah me! It's not for naught!
After his growl, I asked, "T, where do you want to live?"
The clear, sweet answer from my 2 boy... "In the temple."
Perspective.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
She's sleeping now. I sat her on the floor, she lolled herself onto a pillow, and that was it. It is about time. For some reason, my baby girl has the idea that bedtime doesn't apply to her. She almost gives in at "bedtime". The others all relax, brush teeth, read scriptures, and pray. She'll snuggle with her eyes closed, but as soon as the last smooch is smooched, her eyes open. It's like she knows she has me all to herself. Just like 10 months and 10 days ago, I could just sit and stare at her for hours. Not very productive, I know, but I am smitten.
Last night was hard. One of the times I wished I were a superhero. Her cries were desperate and inconsolable. The worst kind. Pain that I couldn't fix. 2 of our 3 favorite docs were unavailable for house-calls, the other says take her in. Even as we sat in the ER she smiled shyly with tears spilling out of her red rimmed eyes. She was miserable, but so good natured. Just as dad thought, an ear infection is the culprit. Pink medicine, and big sister is not here to lick the drips. K has always loved that stuff!
In the ER we made friends. An unkempt woman came in at 11 with 3 small, rowdy boys. She walked to a corner and gathered them close and handed out lunchables. Did she just need a cool place to be? Did she have a home? She didn't check anyone in like the rest of us had. I felt bad when she started getting annoyed looks from others. The man next to her moved. This was my chance. Dumplin' and I moved over and offered a smile and some kind words. 3 boys can be a handful, and hers were so close in age. She was a good mother. Her husband was waiting to be seen. She had been told he might be finished at 10 and then 11, but he still hadn't seen a doc. She didn't want to put her boys to bed at home because she didn't want to wake them up again when she needed to pick her husband up. So, here they sat, wiggled, squirmed, giggled, jumped, skipped, and danced. Waiting. Entertaining my dumplin, and me.
My others were home in bed. Their dad is healthy. Family, friends, and church buoy me up constantly. Even in the middle of the night if I need. I am blessed.
I don't know how long we will be here in the Figueroa home. They have made us so comfortable we may never leave! The house hunt is fun, confusing, exciting, aggravating, exhausting. Bargain shopping at is best. Luckily, we feel at home and are so loved here. Thanks.
When I left the ER to come home, I saw 3 small, still boys and their mom. All eyes closed, and held tight. Now it's my turn. Goodnight.
Last night was hard. One of the times I wished I were a superhero. Her cries were desperate and inconsolable. The worst kind. Pain that I couldn't fix. 2 of our 3 favorite docs were unavailable for house-calls, the other says take her in. Even as we sat in the ER she smiled shyly with tears spilling out of her red rimmed eyes. She was miserable, but so good natured. Just as dad thought, an ear infection is the culprit. Pink medicine, and big sister is not here to lick the drips. K has always loved that stuff!
In the ER we made friends. An unkempt woman came in at 11 with 3 small, rowdy boys. She walked to a corner and gathered them close and handed out lunchables. Did she just need a cool place to be? Did she have a home? She didn't check anyone in like the rest of us had. I felt bad when she started getting annoyed looks from others. The man next to her moved. This was my chance. Dumplin' and I moved over and offered a smile and some kind words. 3 boys can be a handful, and hers were so close in age. She was a good mother. Her husband was waiting to be seen. She had been told he might be finished at 10 and then 11, but he still hadn't seen a doc. She didn't want to put her boys to bed at home because she didn't want to wake them up again when she needed to pick her husband up. So, here they sat, wiggled, squirmed, giggled, jumped, skipped, and danced. Waiting. Entertaining my dumplin, and me.
My others were home in bed. Their dad is healthy. Family, friends, and church buoy me up constantly. Even in the middle of the night if I need. I am blessed.
I don't know how long we will be here in the Figueroa home. They have made us so comfortable we may never leave! The house hunt is fun, confusing, exciting, aggravating, exhausting. Bargain shopping at is best. Luckily, we feel at home and are so loved here. Thanks.
When I left the ER to come home, I saw 3 small, still boys and their mom. All eyes closed, and held tight. Now it's my turn. Goodnight.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Change is in the air
Our home sale should be final this week. We looked at a couple of homes on Saturday, and will see more tomorrow night. It is fun and surprisingly nerve racking. G and T promise they are not getting tired of us being here. We are so blessed to have them and the rest of our great families.
Good friends are blessings that our Heavenly Father gives us to help us through all the different stages of our lives. It is a blessing to remember old ones (TR), keep close ones, and make new ones. I love you all :)
Good friends are blessings that our Heavenly Father gives us to help us through all the different stages of our lives. It is a blessing to remember old ones (TR), keep close ones, and make new ones. I love you all :)
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Thoroughly Modern Millie
This is Karli again. I'm home and over the jet-lag. I have plenty of pictures, but i'm having trouble uploading them for some reason. Here's some from Thoroughly Modern Millie though. Layton and I were both in it with Actors Youth Theatre this year. Thank you to all of you who came and supported us. It was so much fun.
pin curls! they took hours...
take out the pins and....BOING!
Tucker and Layton...no comment :)
20's Flappers...oh yeah
high class 20's
Very exciting and fun. Sorry I have no stage shots...
Sunday, July 5, 2009
K IS alive and well. We were beginning to wonder, having not heard from her since LAST Sunday. My dad felt bad that we have finally learned what it is really like to have a teenager. $ problems solved, so no need to call the parents. Hmmmm. We did end up checking on her and she is just sooooo busy seeing sooooo many amazing sights. I am glad.
Getting into church, today, was much harder than usual. K is in Austria. L, Ja, and Lu are with Granny and the aunts and uncles in Pinetop. R went early for meetings. I only had the babes. Tr and Tr fell asleep right before time to leave. I carried them to their carseats one at a time, loaded in The Bag and my nursery box and headed out. When I got there, I balanced Tr and Tr (still asleep:)) and The Bag and the box all in one load and locked the car and opened the door to the building! Of course when I got to our row, they both woke up. Dang. I was so looking foward to a quiet hour of testimonies. It ended up really nicely. With so few people in the ward, the regulars were not there to fill the time. It was nice to hear from so many who don't usually get up. I enjoyed each testimony even as I sat with R and we passed babies back and forth. With the recent color job, i'd like to think we almost looked like newlyweds! HAHA.
The boys are on their way home, now. K will be home tomorrow evening. All my little froggies will be back in the pond. Just the way I like it.
Getting into church, today, was much harder than usual. K is in Austria. L, Ja, and Lu are with Granny and the aunts and uncles in Pinetop. R went early for meetings. I only had the babes. Tr and Tr fell asleep right before time to leave. I carried them to their carseats one at a time, loaded in The Bag and my nursery box and headed out. When I got there, I balanced Tr and Tr (still asleep:)) and The Bag and the box all in one load and locked the car and opened the door to the building! Of course when I got to our row, they both woke up. Dang. I was so looking foward to a quiet hour of testimonies. It ended up really nicely. With so few people in the ward, the regulars were not there to fill the time. It was nice to hear from so many who don't usually get up. I enjoyed each testimony even as I sat with R and we passed babies back and forth. With the recent color job, i'd like to think we almost looked like newlyweds! HAHA.
The boys are on their way home, now. K will be home tomorrow evening. All my little froggies will be back in the pond. Just the way I like it.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thanks!!!
This is Karli, by the way. Just a few more short hours before I get to board a plane! Yay! So basically, before I leave, I just have to say I have the best, most talented aunts in the whole wide world!!! Because I'll be gone for my birthday on Sunday, they surprised me today with this gorgeous cake! Yes, they really made that themselves...fondant and everything. And as amazing as the outside is, the inside is even better! They used the chocolate cake recipe from NieNie's site. Absolutely Amazing!!!
That's all. :) I'm going to see if I can upload my pictures while I'm in Austria. We'll see. Tchus!
my cake...
notice the resemblance to Bella's cake in New Moon...:)
That's all. :) I'm going to see if I can upload my pictures while I'm in Austria. We'll see. Tchus!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Where are we?
Hi all! Yes, we have moved from "the compound". We now live with our wonderful friends, the "Pinnteroas" (Pinnt/Figueroa) family. They have lovingly given us a couple of rooms for as long as we need them. It is wonderful here, and with their kids 20, 16, 15, and 13, our littles get a lot of attention. It is fun for us all. We are in the neighborhood kiddy-corner from Mt. View, so we are closer to everything we do, except family.
Loula and Matt welcomed Edson, #6 and their 1st son the weekend we moved out, so it was perfect timing. He is wonderful! Earlier that week, I helped Loula make 30 meals in a day to put in the freezer for the upcoming new-baby busy weeks to come, so again, perfect timing.
The rumor is true. (Not that one, I just have some weight to loose.) We do have a contract on our house. Nope, no exclamation marks or anything. Hopefully, all will go smoothly in the next few weeks and we will actually close as scheduled. I am aware that anything could happen in this market and economy, so we will just believe it when it happens.
And finally, Karli and Layton, along with some friends, are in a great musical this week at Legacy school in east Mesa. They will be performing Thoroughly Modern Millie, Monday through Friday. Tickets are still available for $12, so plan a date night and come on out. We are mostly happy and healthy, knock on wood, no complaints here. Now I just need to convince my sweet children... Have a wonderful day!
Loula and Matt welcomed Edson, #6 and their 1st son the weekend we moved out, so it was perfect timing. He is wonderful! Earlier that week, I helped Loula make 30 meals in a day to put in the freezer for the upcoming new-baby busy weeks to come, so again, perfect timing.
The rumor is true. (Not that one, I just have some weight to loose.) We do have a contract on our house. Nope, no exclamation marks or anything. Hopefully, all will go smoothly in the next few weeks and we will actually close as scheduled. I am aware that anything could happen in this market and economy, so we will just believe it when it happens.
And finally, Karli and Layton, along with some friends, are in a great musical this week at Legacy school in east Mesa. They will be performing Thoroughly Modern Millie, Monday through Friday. Tickets are still available for $12, so plan a date night and come on out. We are mostly happy and healthy, knock on wood, no complaints here. Now I just need to convince my sweet children... Have a wonderful day!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Pictures!
Karli's teaching me how to add pictures. Here's some from the things we've been doing the past 2 months...
These are the worlds funniest Mother's Day flowers. This was just the day after I got them and they really made us all laugh and laugh. The company felt so bad that they sent an amazing boquet of lilies that are still blooming as I type!
Here is Karli in all of her glory! Her choir did a great broadway review of CATS. I'm not sure if she liked the singing, dancing or doing the make up the best... It was so fun to watch.
Ta-da! Only a week after she learned to crawl and she is standing. This was a couple of weeks ago, so she's really good at it now. 
I think her cousin is her friend for life for giving her this lollipop! It provided an hour of enjoyment and then I got to mop up a huge slobbery sticky mess.
This is the first time that Ron and his sisters had all been together with their cousins in 30 years. I love that family can get together and it's like they were never apart.Friday, May 15, 2009
The Compound
Ok, so I told you this would be next and now I have other things to tell, so here goes... I grew up near Westwood. My family moved there from Washington state when I was 10 because my grandparents, aunts, uncles and most of my cousins were here. When I was in jr high, my family built a home only 1/2 a block away from the original one and that is where they still live, in the culdesac of Orange Street.
Last year, my parents decided to downsize from the 5500 square feet and bought the smaller older house next door. After a beautiful renovation/remodel, they moved in and my sister and her husband with their bouquet of 5 daughters returned from Pennsylvania and bought the Big House.
I know that sounds like a party, but it gets even better. My older brother with his family bought the house behind the pool and one of my younger brothers with his family live in the house behind the swing set. Block by block, all the fences between the yards have been taken down and the perimeter enclosed... yes, by white pickets:) That means lots of room to run and play!
At last count there were 9 adults, 15 children, 3 dogs, and 1 cat all calling this patch of heaven their home. They share a sandbox, climbing trees, 2 tree forts, a pool, a swing set and all the lawn equipment. There are lots of trees... pecan, peach, apricot, apple, orange, lemon, tangerine, persimmon, pomegranate, misc. shade, date, olive, and mulberry.
So the 8 of us have been blessed to live in the basement of the Big House since the end of January while we try to sell our home near Poston Jr High. We have loved playing in the irrigation, picking and eating mulberries, helping and living so near cousins and grandparents. This is an amazing time that our family will never forget.
Last year, my parents decided to downsize from the 5500 square feet and bought the smaller older house next door. After a beautiful renovation/remodel, they moved in and my sister and her husband with their bouquet of 5 daughters returned from Pennsylvania and bought the Big House.
I know that sounds like a party, but it gets even better. My older brother with his family bought the house behind the pool and one of my younger brothers with his family live in the house behind the swing set. Block by block, all the fences between the yards have been taken down and the perimeter enclosed... yes, by white pickets:) That means lots of room to run and play!
At last count there were 9 adults, 15 children, 3 dogs, and 1 cat all calling this patch of heaven their home. They share a sandbox, climbing trees, 2 tree forts, a pool, a swing set and all the lawn equipment. There are lots of trees... pecan, peach, apricot, apple, orange, lemon, tangerine, persimmon, pomegranate, misc. shade, date, olive, and mulberry.
So the 8 of us have been blessed to live in the basement of the Big House since the end of January while we try to sell our home near Poston Jr High. We have loved playing in the irrigation, picking and eating mulberries, helping and living so near cousins and grandparents. This is an amazing time that our family will never forget.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Ramblings
Conference Sunday Tressie scooted for the first time, and then enough to blacken the pj'd toes of one foot, and wear a hole right through the other. The gummy bears on Jace and Luke's conference bingo boards were great incentive!
Easter Sunday, as I baked the egg and sausage breakfast casserole and helped ready the kitchen to feed 20, (Porters, Porters and Wests) , Karli announced that Tressie had cut her first tooth. Disbelieving, I felt for myself and then burst into tears. Unexpected, at least this soon. After all, she is the baby.
Attending Primary with my boys was a huge eyeopener! They can really be stinkers, in school too, apparently. What to do? Ron is a genius. He gently pointed out that the 2 in the middle don't have a schedule like the older ones did or the younger ones do. Hmmm... Boys who are acting out need more attention.
Nikki's ipod was heaven sent. Picture this: Ron and I and the 2 little ones at the Franklin spring sing, standing room only. A 2nd grade solo: the prince, a 5th grade trumpet accompaniment, no problem. We heard and saw it all thanks to an hour and a 1/2 of Disney Shorts and old Mickey and Donald cartoons. Not a peep out of Troy for the entire concert and he didn't even have his magic tall brother with him. First time. Now to get all the shows copied to MY ipod!
New calling for me: Nursery Leader. Yeah!
Tonight during family prayer, Tressie caught sight of the cool orange toggle on the knee of Ron's shorts. Again, the proper incentive. Hand up, knee up, very deliberate, she did it, crawled, and I got to see. I didn't even cry. I grabbed and "videoed", actually digitally recorded, after the prayer, so Karli could see too, when we pick her up from the all state choir concert in Tucson tomorrow. I miss her. She is having a wonderful time out of the nest. She will want to go again, I am sure. This is great practice for Austria. Now to figure out how to make a countdown for her trip...
Next post: The Compound
Easter Sunday, as I baked the egg and sausage breakfast casserole and helped ready the kitchen to feed 20, (Porters, Porters and Wests) , Karli announced that Tressie had cut her first tooth. Disbelieving, I felt for myself and then burst into tears. Unexpected, at least this soon. After all, she is the baby.
Attending Primary with my boys was a huge eyeopener! They can really be stinkers, in school too, apparently. What to do? Ron is a genius. He gently pointed out that the 2 in the middle don't have a schedule like the older ones did or the younger ones do. Hmmm... Boys who are acting out need more attention.
Nikki's ipod was heaven sent. Picture this: Ron and I and the 2 little ones at the Franklin spring sing, standing room only. A 2nd grade solo: the prince, a 5th grade trumpet accompaniment, no problem. We heard and saw it all thanks to an hour and a 1/2 of Disney Shorts and old Mickey and Donald cartoons. Not a peep out of Troy for the entire concert and he didn't even have his magic tall brother with him. First time. Now to get all the shows copied to MY ipod!
New calling for me: Nursery Leader. Yeah!
Tonight during family prayer, Tressie caught sight of the cool orange toggle on the knee of Ron's shorts. Again, the proper incentive. Hand up, knee up, very deliberate, she did it, crawled, and I got to see. I didn't even cry. I grabbed and "videoed", actually digitally recorded, after the prayer, so Karli could see too, when we pick her up from the all state choir concert in Tucson tomorrow. I miss her. She is having a wonderful time out of the nest. She will want to go again, I am sure. This is great practice for Austria. Now to figure out how to make a countdown for her trip...
Next post: The Compound
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